Leadership communications with Rob Cottingham

In a crisis, people are looking for reassurance, a sense of security... and leadership. And with COVID-19 coronavirus outbreaks happening across the planet, you may soon need to step up on behalf of your organization — for anything from coping with a supply-chain issue to temporarily shutting your doors. How you communicate will make all the difference for your audience.

This two-part episode looks at effective leadership communications in a crisis. Part one is all about preparation: the plans you can put in place now so you're ready when the storm hits... either with this crisis, or the next one. Among other elements, your plan has to specify goals, target audiences, messages, roles and channels.

And stay tuned all week, as we look at some of the implications of the coronavirus outbreak for leaders and the communications teams that support them.

Music: All music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Incidental music is taken from his latest album, Music for Podcasts: True Crime Edition. Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

Are you falling into the trap of sing-song delivery? You could be sapping your speech's strength and breaking your connection to the audience. Here's how to recognize it... and how to stop.

Wondering what's different about this episode? Could be the new theme music!

Links: Episode 51 talks about how to reclaim your natural voice by talking to an audience of one (even when it's actually one thousand).

Those voice acting lessons I mention are at Vancouver's On the Mic Training. Highly recommended!

Music: All music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/). Theme: "Twitter Will Kill Us All." Incidental music is taken from his latest album, Music for Podcasts: True Crime Edition. Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Marius Masalar on Unsplash

Sooner or later speechwriters and other leadership communications practitioners find ourselves talking to a subject matter expert: somebody (usually part of your client's organization) who’s going to give some of their time and knowledge to make your speech or article better. Here's how to get the most out of their time and yours.

Thanks to Clare Kumar, Deb Rohac, Patti Bacchus, Evan Leeson, Ben Roberts, Ben Lucier, Mark Busse, Rob Beggs, Susan RoAne, Jamie Cohen, Luis Giraldo, James Glave, Anthony Floyd, Andréa Coutu, Richard Eriksson, Robert Beggs and Michele Owens who all weighed in online with their advice for talking to subject matter experts.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "And So Then," "Ingenuity," "More On That Later," "Looking Back," "Systematic" and "Sad Marimba Planet." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: James Lee on Unsplash

It can be tempting to sell from the stage... especially when you know some of the people in your audience could be great customers. But resist that temptation. Here's why you should leave the sales pitch behind when you head to the mic — and how you can do a much better sales job if you aren't selling.

Links: Go listen to The Freenoter, a great podcast by Tamsen and Tom Webster about making unpaid speaking opportunities pay off for you and your audience — without selling from the stage.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "4th Avenue Walkup," "Solutions(a)," and "Puzzle Pieces." Used under a Creative Commons license.

"Stage Seller's Rag" composed and performed by Rob Cottingham. The album drops next month... into a bay, weighted down by rocks.

Having trouble connecting emotionally with a speech you're writing or rehearsing? Maybe it's because you're trying to speak to the whole audience instead of just one person.

This episode, here's why you may want to take a leaf from TV cop shows and zoom way in.

(Note: This is episode of the podcast includes mild profanity: The word "bullsh*t" is used several times.)

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Looking Back," "Lost Days," "Hold Music" and "Here's the Thing." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash

I'm always telling you to tell stories... so for the 50th episode of the podcast, I'm going to share one of my own. It's about what a dead pigeon taught me about being a good speechwriter.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "More On That Later," "Places Unseen," "Sad Marimba Planet," "Small Steps," "It Was Like That When I Got Here," "Landing" and "Solutions (c)." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Dawood Javed on Unsplash

Coming up empty as you try to write your speech? Wondering why your presentations aren't landing quite as well as you know they should? You probably know you should connect emotionally with your audience — but maybe you need to think through just what kind of emotional connection you're both looking for.

This episode, we look at six kinds of emotional connection, and how you can build them: confidence, trust, understanding, appreciation, shared values and what I call the mensch factor.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "In a Moment," "Under Suspicion" and "Places Unseen." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Will O on Unsplash

For some reason, we love to hear how superheroes got their powers — their origin stories. And audiences will want to hear yours, too. Here's how to tell the story of how you got here in a way that connects with your audience and even moves them to action... faster (cough) than a speaking bullet.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Swiftwind," "Twitter Will Kill Us All," "Pensacola Twilight," "Atmospheres" and "Thoughtful." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Andrew Martin from Pixabay

As leaders, it can be tempting to forget that not everyone likes being the centre of attention. And when you have an audience, you can all too easily throw a harsh, unforgiving spotlight onto someone who isn't ready for it.

This episode, we look at how to wield your audience's attention responsibly, whether it's from the stage or online.

Links: Skip Weisman was kind enough to let me share his story with you. https://www.yourchampionshipcompany.com/

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "It Was Like That When I Got Here," "More On That Later" and "Systematic." Used under a Creative Commons license.

This summer’s film Long Shot is an entire movie about how speechwriter and speaker relate to each other. And it has something to teach us about making that relationship work — and how the key ingredient is time.

If you're thinking of catching it, the movie's a lot of fun, even if (or probably because) it isn't exactly a documentary portrayal of political speechwriting. Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen are great, and their chemistry is super (although, ahem, that's a line I don't recommend speechwriters cross with their clients).

Links: Most important, props to Long Shot's writers, Dan Sterling and Liz Hannah.

This episode name-checks a bunch of movies and shows, including Long Shot, Speechless, The Good Wife, BrainDead, The Good Fight and House of Cards.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "As I Was Saying," "Small Steps" and "Waterfront." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Fabrizio Verrecchia on Unsplash

What does a speech look like stripped of the craft of speechwriting? HBO's hit show Succession gave us a glimpse with a hilarious eulogy delivered by character Connor Roy... and in the process, helps speechwriters and speakers avoid delivering dull, lifeless speeches.

Links: Here's that eulogy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEdOB9OIh70.

Succession on HBO: https://www.hbo.com/succession.

The writing credits for that episode of Succession go to series creator Jesse Armstrong (https://twitter.com/jessearmstrong1), writer Georgia Pritchett (https://twitter.com/georgiapudding) and story editor Alice Birch (https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/alice-birch).

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Drive 'til Dawn," "Thought Bubbles," "More on That Later" and "Where Was I." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Humam on Unsplash

You can write a speech for a someone. Read it through. Rehearse with the speaker. But you won’t really know how effective it is unless you’re there when they deliver it.

This episode: why speechwriters should fight for a spot in the audience, and how to use it to write better speeches.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "You're Enough (version a)," "Start the Day" and "Not My Problem." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Jonas Jacobsson on Unsplash

A lot of speakers who'd happily get up in front of a thousand-person audience start getting the shakes at the thought of speaking to children or (gulp) teens. Fortunately, we have child-and-teen author Robin Stevenson here to share her experience speaking in front of countless school auditoriums and classrooms. She'll tell us how you can keep your next young audience rapt from beginning to end.

About my guest: Robin Stevenson is the award-winning author of 25 books of fiction and nonfiction for kids and teen, including the Stonewall Honor book Pride: Celebrating Diversity and Community. Robin speaks to groups of all sizes and all ages, from librarians and teachers, to aspiring writers — but she particularly enjoys presenting to kids and teens and has visited hundreds of schools all across Canada. She lives on Vancouver Island with her family.

Links:

You can find Robin on the web (http://www.robinstevenson.com) and on Twitter (https://twitter.com/robin_stevenson).

Here are some of Robin's latest books:

• Kid Activists (https://www.quirkbooks.com/book-authors/robin-stevenson) — "Moving, funny, and totally true childhood biographies of Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Helen Keller, Malala Yousafzai, and 12 other inspiring activists."
• My Body My Choice (https://www.orcabook.com/My-Body-My-Choice-P3991.aspx) — "The long fight for abortion rights is being picked up by a new generation of courageous, creative and passionate activists. This book is about the history, and the future, of that fight."
• Ghost's Journey (https://www.rebelmountainpress.com/ghosts-journey--a-refugee-story.html) — "This book is based on the true story of Eka, Rainer, and their cat, Ghost. When life in Indonesia becomes too dangerous for LGBTQ people, Ghost and her two dads are forced to leave their home and escape to freedom in Canada. The story is told from the perspective of Ghost."

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Where Was I" and "Thought Bubbles." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Roksolana Zasiadko on Unsplash

Writing is usually a pretty solitary pursuit. But solitary doesn’t have to mean isolated. Find out how Elana Aptowitzer created a community of speechwriters inside the Canadian public service — and how you can start building a community of your own.

About my guest: Elana Aptowitzer heads up speechwriting at Canada’s Department of National Defence. She launched the federal government's first speechwriters' community of practice, where public service speechwriters can share tools, resources and best practices.

In the last three years, she has received several awards for continual professional excellence in her demanding role, including the 2019 Emerging Leader award from the Deputy Minister and Chief of the Defence Staff. Elana has taught annual speechwriting seminars at Carleton University for three years, and this year she became a full-time public-servant-in-residence there, developing and teaching a speechwriting training program for fourth-year undergraduate students.

She holds a Masters in Strategic Communications and Speechwriting from American University in Washington, DC.

Links: Dana Rubin runs the 3,000-member-strong Leadership Communications Roundtable on LinkedIn. (https://www.linkedin.com/groups/145130/)

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Night Caves" and "Thinking It Over." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Mario Purisic on Unsplash

We’ve focused on speaking and speechwriting in the podcast — but there’s more than one way to connect with an audience. And one of the best: the venerable op-ed piece.

About my guest: Today’s guest knows op-eds better than anyone I know: Professor Mira Sucharov is the author of Public Influence, and a prolific writer of op-eds published in such outlets as Haaretz, The Forward, The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, The Ottawa Citizen, The Daily Beast and Huffington Post.

Dr. Sucharov is an associate professor of political science at Carleton University, and the author of several other books, including serving as co-editor of Social Justice and Israel/Palestine: Foundational & Contemporary Debates. She's is a four-time teaching award winner, including receiving the 2017 OCUFA award for teaching excellence — the highest university teaching award in Ontario. And she won the 2019 Carleton University Faculty of Public Affairs award for Excellence in Public Commentary.

Links: Public Influence: A Guide to Op-Ed Writing and Social Media Engagement is Dr. Sucharov's terrific book on writing op-eds and making them a springboard to productive conversation. It's available on Amazon (U.S., Canada, U.K.), Indigo/Chapters, the University of Toronto Press and fine booksellers everywhere.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Sad Marimba Planet," "Betrayal," and "Not My Problem." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Mira Cosic from Pixabay

If you really want your audience to care about what you're saying, they need to know you care about it too. And that starts with the attitude you project... and the stands you're willing to take.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Thought Bubbles," "HEAVN," and "It Was Like That When I Got Here." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Lee has released a beautiful album in honour of Apollo 11's 50th anniversary, and you can buy a limited-edition CD. I did and I'm delighted with it. Give it a listen here.

Photo: Eirik Skarstein on Unsplash

Quotations are one of a speechwriter's essential tools — right up there with metaphors, jokes and 3 a.m. espresso. But borrowed eloquence doesn't always work out, and as handy as a quotation can be, using it requires care.

This episode looks at how to use quotations to elevate your whole speech, and how another person's fine words can make yours shine even brighter.

Links: I mentioned them last time, but here's another link to Quote Investigator — one of the great services of the Internet.

And yes, Marlene Dietrich really said that. It's from Marlene Dietrich's ABC: Wit, Wisdom, & Recipes.

I mentioned Ambrose Bierce; he's the author of The Devil's Dictionary, which is filled with marvellously snarky definitions.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Bigger Questions," "Thinking It Over," "Start the Day," and "Waterfront." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Lee has released a beautiful album in honour of Apollo 11's 50th anniversary, and you can buy a limited-edition CD. I did and I'm delighted with it. Give it a listen here.

Most of us like to think of ourselves as basically honest people. But as speakers and speechwriters, it's surprisingly easy to find ourselves misleading our audiences: accidentally or (gulp) deliberately.

Find out how — even with the best intentions — you may be leading your audience astray... and how to get back onto the path of truth.

Warning: Contains traces of scolding and a glancing reference to the current American president.

Links: More about Albert Mehrabian and his work on non-verbal communication.

And about the aerodynamics of bumblebees.

One way that bumblebees definitely can't fly.

My favourite resource for checking quotations and their origins: Quote Investigator.

How graphs can mislead.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Night Caves," "Everywhere," "Systematic," "We Don’t Know How It Ends," and "Saturn V." Used under a Creative Commons license.

Lee has released a beautiful album in honour of Apollo 11's 50th anniversary, and you can buy a limited-edition CD. I did and I'm delighted with it. Give it a listen here.

Photo: Jordan Madrid on Unsplash

Political protest is on the rise — and with it, a growing need for leaders to speak to protest rallies. This episode, we talk with veteran environmental and climate campaigner Tzeporah Berman about rally speeches: how to plan, write and deliver them for maximum impact.

This two-part episode starts with a discussion on planning your speech and thinking about strategy, and concludes in part two by talking about writing and delivery.

About our guest: Tzeporah has over two decades of experience designing campaigns and speaking to crowds small and large (and very large). She's one of the leading Canadian voices on climate, energy and sustainability — and she's had a tremendous impact. There are 40 million hectares of old-growth forest that are still around today in no small part because of her work.

She’s an adjunct professor at York University, and works as a strategic advisor to several First Nations, environmental groups and philanthropic foundations on climate and energy issues. She co-chaired the Alberta government’s Oilsands Advisory Working Group, which developed consensus recommendations on the province’s climate plan.

Tzeporah she co-founded ForestEthics — now called Stand.earth — nearly 20 years ago, and recently returned to the organization as their international program director.

Links: I had the good fortune of collaborating with Tzeporah on a blog post about speaking to rallies a few years ago. Two years on, it's still the most popular post on my blog.

Here's more information about Tzeporah from Stand.earth, formerly ForestEthics. You can also find Tzeporah on Twitter and Facebook.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Start the Day" and "Where Was I". Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Kris Krug

Political protest is on the rise — and with it, a growing need for leaders to speak to protest rallies. This episode, we talk with veteran environmental and climate campaigner Tzeporah Berman about rally speeches: how to plan, write and deliver them for maximum impact.

This two-part episode starts with a discussion on planning your speech and thinking about strategy, and concludes in part two by talking about writing and delivery.

About our guest: Tzeporah has over two decades of experience designing campaigns and speaking to crowds small and large (and very large). She's one of the leading Canadian voices on climate, energy and sustainability — and she's had a tremendous impact. There are 40 million hectares of old-growth forest that are still around today in no small part because of her work.

She’s an adjunct professor at York University, and works as a strategic advisor to several First Nations, environmental groups and philanthropic foundations on climate and energy issues. She co-chaired the Alberta government’s Oilsands Advisory Working Group, which developed consensus recommendations on the province’s climate plan.

Tzeporah she co-founded ForestEthics — now called Stand.earth — nearly 20 years ago, and recently returned to the organization as their international program director.

Links: I had the good fortune of collaborating with Tzeporah on a blog post about speaking to rallies a few years ago. Two years on, it's still the most popular post on my blog.

Here's more information about Tzeporah from Stand.earth, formerly ForestEthics. You can also find Tzeporah on Twitter and Facebook.

Music: Theme: "Good Times" by Podington Bear (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Podington_Bear/).

Incidental music by Lee Rosevere (https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/) including "Start the Day" and "Where Was I". Used under a Creative Commons license.

Photo: Flickr user Leo Reynolds